County calls on Anna Maria to back renourishmentby Rick Catlin. Islander Reporter

If the planned state/county/federal beach renourishment project on Anna Maria Island slated to begin in 2011-12 is anything like the 2002 project, expect plenty of sparks and verbal exchanges between government officials and Islanders who oppose the plan.

It only took two complaints in January by Anna Maria residents living near the Anna Maria Island Community Center to spark a city commission controversy over whether or not the Center needs to submit special event permits for most events at the facility.

A woman apparently drove her car off the beach into the Gulf of Mexico Jan. 26 just north of the BeachHouse Restaurant in Bradenton Beach. According to reports, she was asked to leave the sand and instead entered the water. The Bradenton woman, who was not identified, was hospitalized under the Baker Act and the vehicle pulled from the Gulf. Islander Photo: Courtesy Joe Tate

'Net Working,' working nets at Cortezby Jim Hanson. Islander Reporter

All sorts of nets used by commercial fishermen will provide a brand new feature at the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival Feb. 16 and 17.

John R. Chappie, a resident of Bradenton Beach since 1974, has completed the necessary paperwork and announced his candidacy for Manatee County Commission District 3 seat, currently held by Jane Von Hahmann.

Bankrupt GSR Development LLC has filed a number of objections to unsecured claims with the federal bankruptcy court in Tampa, including those of Islanders Mel and Carol Yudofsky and the city of Bradenton Beach.

Three young men bought a pellet gun and proceeded to shoot out windows of some 50 vehicles in a spree that took them from Sports Authority to McDonald’s to the Palma Sola Causeway, before they were arrested.